There are a lot of reasons that casual consumers would want to put money into a drone: with stunts, racing, and professional experience just topping the list. But the one feature that can transform a drone from a very simple toy into a more advanced hobbyist obsession is the inclusion of a best drones with camera. With a camera, your own chances expand greatly to add tasks like studying and aerial photography.
That said, the camera quality of a drone may vary considerably, and it can be easy to get suckered in case you don’t know what you’re looking for. But you don’t need to worry about that. We’ve chosen 10 of the best drones with cameras in 2020, and we’ll also walk you through everything you should pay attention to when shopping for a camera drone.
10 Best Drones with Cameras
1. DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter
In terms of video quality, the DJI Phantom 3 Pro really steps things up from the HS100. It allows you to record video at 4K resolution at up to 30 frames per second and view your footage live streaming of 720p video, so you don’t have to go in blind as to what your video will look like when you extract the SD card from this camera drone.
The controller for this camera drone is smartly designed, giving you all of the essential controls you’ll need right at your fingertips, but the DJI Phantom 3 Pro really exceeds when you start to utilize the app. Your phone can comfortably fit in the controller’s cradle, and the app will give you access to a unique beginner’s mode that can ease you into the process of flying a drone. It’s one of the best tools for beginners in the drone market.
Key Features
- 4K resolution at up to 30 fps
- Vision positioning for tighter areas
- Supports both GPS and GLONASS
- Three axis gimbal stability
- No way to upgrade the camera
2. Holy Stone GPS FPV RC Drone HS100 with Camera
Holy Stone is one of the most prolific consumer drone manufacturers on the planet, and while their drones with best drones with camera are pretty much universally high quality, we have a particular fondness for the HS100. For just $150, you can get a camera drone capable of shooting upscaled 2K video and an adjustable 120 degree viewing angle.That should be more than enough to capture even trickier shots in high definition.
But if you want to get creative with it, Holy Stone has included some features that can help even inexperienced drone pilots capture photos like a pro. The inclusion of full GPS capabilities means that you can make the drone follow you for great selfies or action footage, and you can count on it to return home when the battery starts to get too low. And an additional altitude hold mode facilitates far more stable video capture.
Key Features
- Headless and altitude hold modes
- Above average range and battery life
- Requires almost no assembly
- Flight assisted by GPS capabilities
- Batteries take a good long time to charge
3. SNAPTAIN S5C WiFi FPV Drone with 720P HD Camera
If you want a camera drone that’s higher quality than the Cheerwing Syma but can’t afford to spend over a hundred bucks, the Snaptain S5C is going to be one of your best options. It dramatically increases the resolution to a full 720p – and while that’s still not going to satisfy serious videographers, it’s perfectly suited to less professional needs and is a best fit for casual consumers.
The features with this drone with camera are better than average, and there’s an emphasis on making sure that beginning drone pilots have all the tools that they need at their disposal. That includes simple functions like one touch takeoffs and landings but also more advanced options like gravity controls: an inclusion that lets yo control your drone with simple tilts of your connected smartphone.
Key Features
- Available for under $100
- Tons of beginner specific features
- Propeller guards to protect against impact
- Seamless uploads to social media
- Below average camera quality
4. Cheerwing Syma WiFi FPV Drone with Camera
Do you need a good camera drone, but you’re also working within the confines of a tight budget? The Cheerwing Syma offers one of the best compromises around. This new and updated version trades in the typical radio transmission in favor of a Wi-Fi connection – and in doing so, this drone with camera offers some of the best stability and controls around.
That said, this definitely isn’t the camera drone you should be using if you’re serious about aerial photography. The resolution here isn’t great, but it’s impressive for the micro budget price, and it’s one of the best choice for beginners and children looking to learn the fundamentals of flying a drone. Further improving its value as a beginner friendly drone are a headless function and the ability to perform one button stunt rolls.
Key Features
- Works with iOS and Android
- One button 360 degree rolls
- Stable six-axis flight control system
- Equipped with bright flashing lights
- Camera resolution is far from the best
5. Force1 U45W Blue Jay Best Drones with Camera
If you have a kid with an interest in aerial photography, you may want to turn your attention the the U45W Blue Jay . It comes packed with a 720p camera and a sleek black and blue design that makes this drone stand out from most of the competition. And while it may sport an intimidating experience, it’s incredibly friendly to beginners.
The Blue Jay is incredibly easy to control, and it comes with a price point that will be appealing to more budget conscious shoppers. And since it uses a Wi-Fi connection, you can count on it to provide a higher level of stability, at least when in range of a network. In addition to offering a decent video resolution, beginners can easily perform stunts within just a few minutes of taking this drone for its first flight.
Key Features
- A good choice for kids
- Extended battery life with backup
- Designed to work with virtual reality
- Capable of performing one touch stunts
- Relatively low control range
6. Potensic T25 GPS Drone, FPV RC Drone with Camera
If you’re willing to spend just over a hundred bucks, you can seriously upgrade your resolution for a drone with camera. The Potensic T25 is one of the best camera drones for beginners, but it also offers a maximum resolution of 1080p, so it can continue to be of value even after you learn the ins and outs of piloting a drone.
The stabilization system is easily some of the best we’ve seen. The nine axis gyroscope provides a good sense of balance and is further simplified by the range of intelligent flight modes. These include a headless mode, one key takeoffs and landings, and altitude hold for capturing the perfect videos or stills with clarity. And it looks sleek too thanks to a design that evokes the slim, white house style of Apple products.
Key Features
- Multiple different intelligent flight modes
- Supports GPS and GLONASS positioning
- Some of the best stability around
- Automatically returns home on low battery
- Battery life is simply average
7. EACHINE E58 WiFi FPV Quadcopter with Camera
Looking for a camera drone that’s more about having fun than catching the most high resolution video you can? Look to the EACHINE E58 . This pocket quadcopter can fold into itself and fit comfortably into your pocket, allowing you to bring it with you just about anywhere. And the sense of style is good f4kenough to match far more expensive drones.
And if you want to get this up and running quickly, you’re in luck. Features like headless mode and one key return are pretty common among entry level drones, but the E58 also includes trimming to provide you with a quick and easy way to stabilize your quadcopter if things go wrong.
Key Features
- Compact enough to fit in a pocket
- Uses real time Wi-Fi transmission
- Gravity stabilization mode
- Supports virtual reality headsets
- A little too lightweight in design
8. DBPOWER X400W FPV RC Quadcopter Drone with WiFi Camera
The DBPOWER X400 may bear the price of a budget quadcopter, but it has the heart of a much more advanced camera drone. It performs well even against wind resistance and comes pre-constructed so you can get it up and running in practically no time at all. Most of the tricks and features can be performed with a single button press, so you’ll feel like a pro right from the start.
The video footage here is far from the best we’ve ever seen, but at this price point, drones are generally more focused on teaching you how to fly rather than shooting professional level footage. But where this drone really shines is through the quality of the downlink. You can essentially fly the X400W just using your camera without concern about lag.
Key Features
- Wi-Fi connection with almost no lag
- Single button flips and rolls
- Easy to use headless mode
- Works well in windy environments
- Incredibly sensitive control sticks
9. Tello Quadcopter
This Tello quadcopter is a great way to learn how to fly, but it’s also a great way to share your experience with friends. The compatible app makes the process of sharing your videos on social media platforms stupidly easy, and it offers a ton of control options. You can use your phone, the packaged controller, or a VR headset to take to the skies and show off your moves.
And those moves will be easier to perform with this model too. Performing tricks is as easy as flicking your finger on the control stick, and you can launch the Tello by simply throwing it into the air. It finds a nice middle ground before toy drones and more professional models while stripping out the learning curve.
Key Features
- Multiple different control options
- Easy sharing on social media
- Automatic takeoff and landing
- Compatible with Scratch programming language
- Too small to work in windy conditions
10. Parrot PF728000 Anafi wit 4k UHD camera
Parrot was one of the first companies to break into the consumer drone market, and they’re still one of the best – just as long as you have the money to pay for them. The PF728000 is the only drone on our list to support 4K video, but Parrot has packed in support for high dynamic resolution as well. That makes this drone a stellar investment for professional or aspiring photographers.
And if you’re looking to boost the frame rate, you can always downgrade the best drones with camera footage to 2.7K or even 1080p resolution. You can get some serious performance out of this drone too. Breaking from the standard, it offers a full 25 minutes of flight time on one charge.
Key Features
- Almost a half hour of flight time
- Supports 2.7K and 4K resolution
- Highly compact form factor
- Supports geofencing for patrols
- Costs around $700
